Apparatus for forming arched roof sheets for automotive carrier vehicle

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for forming an arched and corrugated roof sheet having a horizontal central section and two downwardly inclined sections extending from each end of the central section to the ends of the sheet. The arched roof is formed from a flat sheet having corrugations formed therein. The corrugated flat sheet is formed into an arch by bending each end margin of the sheet into two downwardly inclined sections relative to each other.

United States Patent [191 Lannin Dec. 23, 1975 APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARCHED ROOF SHEETS FOR AUTOMOTIVE CARRIER VEHICLE [75] Inventor: William W. Lannin, Hammond, Ind. [73] Assignee: Stanray Corporation, Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Dec. 28, 1973 [211 Appl. No.: 429,377

[52] US. Cl. 72/321; 72/382; 72/412 [51] Int. Cl. B21D 11/20; B21D 37/06 [58] Field of Search 72/3l6, 310, 319-323,

72/386-388, 379, 382, 396-398, 465, 466, DIG, 14, 389, 36, DIG. 21, 383, 381, 412

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,350,379 6/1944 Weightman 72/321 2,510,768 6/1950 Williamson 72/DIG. 21 2,536,643 1/1951 Housdorfer et al 72/307 2,702,578 2/1955 Hoffman 72/397 X 2,935,111 5/1960 Krause 72/382 2,944,583 7/1960 Welindt 72/380 3,260,087 7/1966 Guarino.... 72/36 3,595,061 7/1971 Bessho 72/319 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 482,769 4/1938 United Kingdom 72/321 1,577,012 8/1969 Germany 72/389 Primary Examiner-C. W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-D. M. Gurley Attorney, Agent, 0r'FirmSabin C. Bronson ABSTRACT Apparatus for forming an arched and corrugated roof sheet having' a horizontal central section and two downwardly inclined sections extending from each end of the central section to the ends of the sheet. The arched roof is formed, from a flat sheet having corrugations formed therein. The corrugated flat sheet is formed into an arch by bending each end margin of the sheet into two downwardly inclined sections relative to each other.

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Dec.23,1975 Sheet10f4 3,927,548

D N m US. Patent De c. 23, 1975 Sheet 2 of 4 .IIIII US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 3 Of4 3,927,548

US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 4 of 4 APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARCHED ROOF SHEETS FOR AUTOMOTIVE CARRIER VEHICLE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to containers of the type transported on railway vehicles and more particularly to an apparatus for forming a roof sheet for the container.

The containers with which the roof sheets of the present invention are used are of the type in which high quality and expensive automobiles are transported. In order to achieve maximum capacity these containers are formed with an arched roof. The arched roof is formedof relatively thin gauge material and is formed with a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending corrugations. The corrugations serve to rigidify the sheet. These corrugations are formed in the sheet prior to forming the arch.

The present invention is directed to the means for forming the arch in the corrugated sheet.

This is accomplished by turning and bending the sheet adjacent the ends thereof with a rolling action which is achieved by progressively tangentially bendmg.

Theapparatus for progressively tangentially bending the end margins of the sheet is accomplished by means clamping a length of said sheet between the corrugations and spaced a distance from the longitudinal edge, and means for progressively and tangentially contacting the adjacent unclamped section to bend said unclamped section.

Further features will hereinafter appear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top plan view of a corrugated roof sheet prior to being formed into an arch.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a roof sheet after being form into an arch.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the appara tus used to form the arch.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus taken generally along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the lines 66 of FIG. 4 showing one roll form assembly.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the lines 66 of FIG. 4 but showing both roll form assemblies positioned for bending the corrugated sheet.

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross section view taken generally along the line 66 of FIG. 4 but extending across both roll form assemblies showing the assemblies bending one end of the roof sheet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, in particular FIG. 2, there is shown a roof sheet 10 which is arched and symmetrical about the longitudinal center line. The arched roof comprises a substantially flat central section 11, downwardly inclined intermediate sections 12-12, and outer inclined sections 13-13. The intermediate sections 12-12 are connected to the respective ends of the center section 11 and outer inclined sections by radii 14 and 15. Corrugations 16 are formed in the roof 10 prior to being arched. As shown in FIGS. 1 and'3 the corrugations 16 extend longitudinally from end to end of the sheet and are equally spaced from each other. The corrugations 16 include peaks l7 and valleys 18 which determine the spacing of the corrugations. The corrugations 16 are formed in the roof sheet 10 prior to being arched and are formed into the arch on the apparatus 20 shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. The arch forming apparatus comprises a press 20 having a head or ram 21 and a bedx22 which are movable between an open position as shown in FIG. 6 to the closed position shown in FIG. 7.

A die block 23 includes a central section 24 having a flat plane surface 26 and end sections 27-27 fixed to the ends of the central section 24. The end sections 27-27 are each provided with convex surfaces 28 about which the radii 14 and 15 (FIG. 2) are formed.

Fixed to the central section 24 are a plurality of lengthwise 'strip assemblies 29 which are adapted to be received within the valleys 18 of the corrugated roof sheet 10. The strip assemblies include a resilient strip 31 made from urethane, rubber or the like and a spring steel strip 32. The resilient strip 31 is aligned to the steel strip 32 so as to provide support as the strip assembly 29 extends from the central section 24 in spaced relation with the convex surfaces 28 as shown in FIG. 6.

A central clamping channel 33 is mounted and supported on outboard independent cushion pins 34 mounted for sliding movement in the bed 22. The clamping channel 33 is reinforced by bars 36 fixed to the underside thereof. A balancing block 37 is fastened at each end of the ram. The balancing block 37 contacts the channel 33 as the top die 23 makes contact with the clamping channel 33. This balances the force and prevents deflection of the channel 33.

A roll form assembly 38 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8 is also located on each side of the bed 22 below each of the end sections 27. The roll form assemblies 38 each include roll form support bars 39 supported on a centrally located second set of independent cushion pins 40. The cushion pressure exerted by the pins may be varied.

The support bar 39 provides a rotational support for the bulbular end 41 of a rotating roll form bar 42. The bar 42 is pivotally connected adjacent the opposite end by means of a hinge leaf bracket 43 and a pin 44 to a bracket 45 mounted on the bed 22.

The channel 33 carries a plurality of lengthwise spaced strips 35 made of metal. The strips 35 seat within the crests 17 of the corrugations 16 of the roof sheet. Similar strips 35a are fastened to the roll bar 42. The bulbular end' 41 provides a rotation point about which the roll form support bar 42 rotates to form the radii on the arched roof 10.

As shown in FIG. 7 gauging means 46 is provided on the press bed 22 and is supported on a platform 47. The gauging means 46 includes blocks 48 supporting gauging pins 49 normally biased upwardly above the block surface by springs 51. The blocks 48 are slidably mounted on a guideway 52. A set screw 53 extending through an upright post 54 serves to selectively position the blocks 48 and therebythe gauge pins 49. The gauge pins 49 are received in gauge openings provided along the edge of the roof sheet and thereby serve to locate the roof sheet relative to the central clamping section 24 and end sections 27 of the die.

In operation the flat sheet is positioned on the bed 22 with the strips 35 and 35a on the clamping channel 33 and roll form support bars 42 accommodated within the peaks 17 of the corrugations 16. The ram 21 is then lowered and the portions of the resilientstrips 29 overlying the channel 33 are received within the valleys 18 of the corrugations. Of course, the sheet has previously been located on the bedby means of the gauging pins 49, located outboard of the roll form assemblies 38, as shown in FIG. 7. The flat sheet is now located and firmly clamped between the resilient strips as shown in FIG. 5.

The ram continues to move downwardly whereupon the channel 33 is depressed downwardly and the convex surfaces 28 tangentially engage the roll form bars 42 which turn about the pivot pins 44. As this occurs the roll form support bar 39 is also depressed downwardly against the cushion pins 40 so that the turning point of the bulbular end 41 of roll form bars are displaced. During this stroke of the press, the outboard cushions 34 move a different amount than the central cushions 40 to provide proper clamping and also resistance to rotation of the roll form assemblies 38.

As a result of this action at the bulbular ends 41 and the turning about the pivot pins 44 the bending along one end of the roof sheet occurs progressively about the convex surfaces 28 from the junction of the intermediate section 12 with the central section 11 and the outer sections to form the radii 14 and 15. It is also noted the free hanging portions of the strips 29 and the strips 35a on the roll form bars are received in the corrugations 16 so that the latter are maintained substantially free of wrinkles. In this manner the arch is 4 formed along one side of the roof sheet. Thereafter the sheet is relocated so that the opposite side is disposed in the apparatus and the bending process is repeated. The arched roof is then in the form shown in FIG. 2.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for forming an arched roof sheet from a flat sheet including a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending corrugations, said apparatus comprising an upper die and a lower die movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position, said upper die including a flat upper central section and convexly curved side sections on the opposite ends of said central section, spaced resilient strip means longitudinally extending across said flat central section and said curved side sections, said strips being fastened only to said central section, said lower die including a lower central channel, a pair of pivotally mounted planar end sections adapted to progressively and tangentially engage said convex surfaces when said upper central section depresses said lower central channel, and longitudinally extending strip means in staggered relationship to said resilient strip means on said upper central section, and detachably underlying said curved side sections.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said planar end sections are pivotally connected to pivot means adjacent one end, and means engageable with the other end yieldably controlling turning about said pivot means.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein gauge means are mounted on said bed for locating said sheet. 

1. Apparatus for forming an arched roof sheet from a flat sheet including a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending corrugations, said apparatus comprising an upper die and a lower die movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position, said upper die including a flat upper central section and convexly curved side sections on the opposite ends of said central section, spaced resilient strip means longitudinally extending across said flat central section and said curved side sections, said strips being fastened only to said central section, said lower die including a lower central channel, a pair of pivotally mounted planar end sections adapted to progressively and tangentially engage said convex surfaces when said upper central section depresses said lower central channel, and longitudinally extending strip means in staggered relationship to said resilient strip means on said upper central section, and detachably underlying said curved side sections.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said planar end sections are pivotally connected to pivot means adjacent one end, and means engageable with the other end yieldably controlling turning about said pivot means.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein gauge means are mounted on said bed for locating said sheet. 